The young UA volleyball team will face a baptism by fire starting today at the Pepperdine Classic.

The No. 10 Wildcats open up their season and the tournament today with Notre Dame at Pepperdine's Firestone Fieldhouse at 5 p.m., then play Eastern Washington at noon and No. 5 Pepperdine at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

"We're all so excited about it," said sophomore middle blocker Bre Ladd. "We can't wait to play someone else besides each other."

The Fighting Irish and Eagles are almost on the end of the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Poll, both receiving votes. Both of Arizona's opponents are defending conference champions ÷ Notre Dame in the Big East, Eastern Washington in the Big Sky and Pepperdine in the West Coast Conference.

The tournament features top flight competition according to head coach Dave Rubio.

"You've got No. 5 Pepperdine, who's the host. Obviously that's tough in itself," Rubio said. "Then you got Eastern Washington who was 29-2 last year. They're going to be very good. And then we open up against Notre Dame, the Big East champions (that) returns all six starters."

Notre Dame was the No. 16 seed in the NCAA tournament and hosted first and second matches last year. Despite a 29-2 record last year and winning the Big Sky regular season title, Eastern Washington was left out of the NCAA tourney.

Pepperdine, an Elite 8 team last year along with Arizona, returns 10 letter winners, including five starters and the No. 5 ranking ÷ the team's highest ever. Last year the Waves beat the Wildcats, 3-0 at McKale.

"It's tough to open up to such a tough schedule, but we're such a talented team," Rubio said. "I need to get my players some experience playing against some great competition."

Pepperdine is led by senior outside hitter Katie Wilkens, a second team All-American and the WCC player of the year in 2002, and by senior middle blocker Lyndsey Hache', who was All-Pacific Region. Outside hitter Breegan Mulligan, the 2002 WCC Freshman of the Year, and Wave freshman middle blockers Sophia Milo and Kristin McClune are both top 50 recruits.

"I think we can definitely do well this weekend," said sophomore out side hitter Kim Glass. "I think it will be good for us to get some experience together."

Although the team is young ÷ the Wildcats have just one senior and three juniors ÷ Ladd doesn't feel playing easy opponents early on would help.

"Definitely not, I don't think that would help at all," she said. "I mean, since we have to play teams that are not necessarily at the same talent level and athletic level as you, but it is sometimes even harder to play teams like that because you tend to stoop down to their level."

Rubio agrees to an extent, but fears, like any young team, that the Wildcats could lose their confidence.

"I think you have to have a mixture. You don't want your young team to lose its confidence, that's the biggest fear anytime you have a young team playing against all other competition," he said.

Although the tournament is played at a neutral site, the Wildcats will open their season on the road for the eighth straight season. They are 19-7 in season-opening matches since 1977 and have won their first match each of the last two seasons.

Arizona is 33-6 on neutral floors under Rubio, and was 4-0 on neutral locales last season.

"This weekend we just have to stick together no matter what," Glass said. "There's going to be some ups and some downs, so I think it is very important for us to stay together and focus on our task. To pass and serve are going to be a real big key to get the ball in and give us a chance to play the ball around."

UA volleyball is the fourth Wildcat team to face Notre Dame since March. The men's basketball, women's basketball and baseball teams played the Fighting Irish in the NCAA tournament last year, with men's basketball providing the only victory.